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Digital girl: cyberfeminism and the emancipatory potential of digital entrepreneurship in emerging economies

Author

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  • Maura McAdam

    (Dublin City University)

  • Caren Crowley

    (Maastricht School of Management)

  • Richard T. Harrison

    (University of Edinburgh Business School)

Abstract

Digital entrepreneurship has been described as a “great leveler” in terms of equalizing the entrepreneurial playing field for women. However, little is known of the emancipatory possibilities offered by digital entrepreneurship for women constrained by social and cultural practices such as male guardianship of female relatives and legally enforced gender segregation. In order to address this research gap, this paper examines women’s engagement in digital entrepreneurship in emerging economies with restrictive social and cultural practices. In so doing, we draw upon the analytical frameworks provided by entrepreneurship as emancipation and cyberfeminism. Using empirical data from an exploratory investigation of entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia, we examine how women use digital technologies in the pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities. Our findings reveal that women in Saudi Arabia use digital entrepreneurship to transform their embodied selves and lived realities rather than to escape gender embodiment as offered by the online environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Maura McAdam & Caren Crowley & Richard T. Harrison, 2020. "Digital girl: cyberfeminism and the emancipatory potential of digital entrepreneurship in emerging economies," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 349-362, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:55:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s11187-019-00301-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-019-00301-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Xiaolan & Huang, Yidong & Gao, Mei, 2022. "Can digital financial inclusion promote female entrepreneurship? Evidence and mechanisms," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    2. Ratten, Vanessa & da Silva Braga, Vitor Lélio & da Encarnação Marques, Carla Susana, 2021. "Sport entrepreneurship and value co-creation in times of crisis: The covid-19 pandemic," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 265-274.
    3. Hayfaa A. Tlaiss & Maura McAdam, 2023. "Muslim feminists and entrepreneurship at times and in contexts of crises," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 1759-1784, September.
    4. Kang, Hye Young, 2022. "Technological engagement of women entrepreneurs on online digital platforms: Evidence from the Apple iOS App Store," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    5. Paul, Justin & Alhassan, Ibrahim & Binsaif, Nasser & Singh, Prakash, 2023. "Digital entrepreneurship research: A systematic review," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    6. Kelly, Dr Gráinne & McAdam, Maura, 2022. "Scaffolding liminality: The lived experience of women entrepreneurs in digital spaces," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    7. Peter M. Bican & Alexander Brem, 2020. "Digital Business Model, Digital Transformation, Digital Entrepreneurship: Is There A Sustainable “Digital”?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-15, June.
    8. Sanae Hobad & Laila Hobad & Abderrazzak Kabbouri, 2023. "Female entrepreneurship and social media in Morocco [L'entrepreneuriat féminin et les médias sociaux au Maroc]," Post-Print hal-03973512, HAL.
    9. Albena Pergelova & Fernando Angulo-Ruiz & Leo-Paul Dana, 2022. "The Entrepreneurial Quest for Emancipation: Trade-Offs, Practices, and Outcomes in an Indigenous Context," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(2), pages 481-503, October.
    10. Jiyoung Kimjeon & Per Davidsson, 2022. "External Enablers of Entrepreneurship: A Review and Agenda for Accumulation of Strategically Actionable Knowledge," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(3), pages 643-687, May.
    11. Yalin Wang & Yaokuang Li & Juan Wu & Li Ling & Dan Long, 2023. "Does digitalization sufficiently empower female entrepreneurs? Evidence from their online gender identities and crowdfunding performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 325-348, June.
    12. Emma Verónica Ramos Farroñán & Solano Campos Marianela Karina & Marco Agustín Arbulú Ballesteros & Mabel Ysabel Otiniano León & Sandra Lizbeth Sánchez Nuñez & celín Pérez Najera, 2023. "Female University Entrepreneurship: A Competitive Factor to Strengthen the Professional Profile of Female University Students," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 12, September.
    13. Lola Redondo-Rodríguez & Diana C. Pérez-Bustamante Yábar & Eloísa Díaz-Garrido, 2023. "Impact of technological innovation on digital entrepreneurship and the effects on the economy," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 1501-1526, September.
    14. Fernandes, Cristina & Ferreira, João J. & Veiga, Pedro Mota & Kraus, Sascha & Dabić, Marina, 2022. "Digital entrepreneurship platforms: Mapping the field and looking towards a holistic approach," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    15. Xiuxiu Jiang & Xia Wang & Jia Ren & Zhimin Xie, 2023. "Digital economy, agglomeration, and entrepreneurship in Chinese cities," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(1), pages 359-370, January.
    16. Kabbara, Diala & Zucchella, Antonella, 2023. "Transnational entrepreneurship. Insights from female entrepreneurs in the modest fashion industry," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).
    17. Yáñez-Valdés, Claudia & Guerrero, Maribel & Barros-Celume, Sebastián & Ibáñez, María J., 2023. "Winds of change due to global lockdowns: Refreshing digital social entrepreneurship research paradigm," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    18. Laura Iosif & Ana Maria Cristina Țâncu & Andreea Cristiana Didilescu & Marina Imre & Silviu Mirel Pițuru & Ecaterina Ionescu & Viorel Jinga, 2023. "Perceptions and Expectations of Academic Staff in Bucharest towards the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Dental Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
    19. Khan, Muhammad Zubair & Khan, Zafir Ullah & Hameed, Affan & Zada, Shehnaz Sahib, 2021. "On the upside or flipside: Where is venture capital positioned in the era of digital disruptions?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Entrepreneurship as emancipation; Digital entrepreneurship; Cyberfeminism; Qualitative methodology; Saudi Arabia; Emerging economies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • L29 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Other
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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